Buyer Terms & Conditions
Last updated:1st February 2026
1. Acceptance of these Terms
These Buyer Terms and Conditions apply to all users who register, bid, or purchase items through Blooms Auction.
By creating an account, placing a bid, or completing a purchase, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
No exceptions to these Terms apply unless expressly confirmed in writing by a Director of Blooms Auction.
2. Role of Blooms Auction
All items listed on Blooms Auction are sold on behalf of third-party sellers. Blooms Auction acts solely as an agent and is not the seller of any item.
Unless expressly stated otherwise on the listing, sellers are private individuals. Where an item is sold on behalf of a business, this will be clearly stated in the item description.
Title to the item passes directly from the seller to the buyer upon completion of the sale and receipt of payment, subject to these Terms.
3. Buyer Eligibility and Account Classification
When creating an account, you must declare whether you are acting as a private individual or as a business buyer. This declaration forms part of your agreement with Blooms Auction and cannot be changed at a later date.
If you wish to participate in both capacities, you must create separate accounts.
Blooms Auction reserves the right to reclassify an account where behaviour, purchasing activity, or other evidence contradicts the declaration made at registration.
4. Identity Verification and Anti-Money Laundering
Blooms Auction may require buyers to verify their identity using our chosen identity verification partner. Identity verification may be required for higher-value purchases, frequent buyers, or where required by our payment processors, banking partners, insurers, or applicable anti-money laundering regulations.
Where identity verification is required, purchased items will be held and will not be released or dispatched until verification has been successfully completed.
Failure or refusal to complete required identity verification may result in cancellation of the sale and suspension or termination of your account.
5. Buyer’s Premium
A buyer’s premium is payable on all successful purchases. The buyer’s premium is set by Blooms Auction, typically at 20 percent of the hammer price, and is clearly displayed before bidding and at the point of purchase.
The buyer’s premium is non-negotiable and payable in addition to the hammer price.
6. Payment Terms
Upon completion of an auction, Blooms Auction will attempt to take payment automatically using the payment method provided by the buyer.
Payment in full is due within 24 hours of the auction ending.
If payment is not received within this period, Blooms Auction may cancel the sale without limitation or right of appeal. In such cases, Blooms Auction reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban the buyer from future bidding and to charge a fee equivalent to the applicable buyer’s premium.
7. Holding of Funds as Stakeholder
Blooms Auction routinely holds buyer funds as stakeholder for a period following completion of the sale.
Funds are not released to the seller until:
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The item has been dispatched by Blooms Auction
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Any required identity verification has been completed
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The buyer’s authenticity dispute period has expired without issue
Seller payment typically occurs 10 to 14 days after the auction ends.
8. Dispatch and Delivery
All items are held by Blooms Auction prior to auction and are dispatched by Blooms Auction, not by the seller.
Items will be dispatched within 1 working day of the auction ending, subject to payment and any required identity verification.
Delivery is deemed complete when the item is confirmed as delivered by the courier to the buyer’s nominated address.
9. Collection in Person
Blooms Auction may allow buyers to collect items in person from Blooms Auction premises. Collection directly from sellers is not permitted.
Where an item is collected in person, the buyer will be given the opportunity to inspect the item at the point of collection. The buyer must either:
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Accept the item and confirm acceptance of its condition and authenticity, or
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Reject the item and return it immediately at the point of collection
Once an item has been accepted and released to the buyer at collection, Blooms Auction’s enhanced authenticity guarantee does not apply.
10. Authenticity Guarantee
Blooms Auction guarantees the authenticity of all items sold through the platform, subject to the conditions set out in these Terms.
For items delivered by courier, buyers may dispute authenticity by notifying Blooms Auction immediately and in all cases within 7 calendar days of confirmed receipt of the item.
For items collected in person, any authenticity or condition concerns must be raised at the point of collection. Once an item has been accepted and released to the buyer at collection, Blooms Auction’s enhanced authenticity guarantee does not apply.
All authenticity determinations are made by Blooms Auction’s experts and, where appropriate, independent third parties.
If an item is confirmed not to be genuine within the applicable authenticity dispute period, Blooms Auction will refund the buyer the full amount paid for the item, including the buyer’s premium. Blooms Auction will pursue the seller separately, including through legal proceedings if necessary.
The refund described above is the buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy under Blooms Auction’s authenticity guarantee. No further compensation is payable under any circumstances, and Blooms Auction’s total liability in connection with authenticity is strictly limited to the total amount paid by the buyer for the item.
11. Expiry of Enhanced Authenticity Guarantee
Blooms Auction’s enhanced authenticity guarantee expires:
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7 calendar days after confirmed delivery for shipped items, or
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Immediately upon acceptance for items collected in person
After expiry of the enhanced authenticity guarantee, Blooms Auction has no further obligation in respect of authenticity beyond any statutory rights that may apply.
12. Consumer Rights
Where applicable, buyers purchasing as consumers retain their statutory consumer rights.
Standard ‘cooling-off’ rights under distance selling regulations do not apply to auction purchases. Protections relating to misdescription and authenticity remain unaffected within the applicable dispute periods.
13. Public Statements and Reputational Harm
During the course of any authenticity investigation, buyers must not make public statements or allegations relating to the authenticity of an item other than to Blooms Auction, relevant authorities, or professional advisers.
Unproven public allegations may cause reputational harm to Blooms Auction, sellers, and associated parties.
Nothing in these Terms limits Blooms Auction’s rights to pursue remedies available under applicable law in respect of false or misleading public statements which cause demonstrable loss.
14. Suspension and Termination
Blooms Auction reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or permanently block any user account at any time and at its sole discretion, with or without notice.
15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Buyer Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction.